Crystal River current., 1887-03-05
WAR RUMORs.
All Europe Ready to Fly to Arms
Mt n Moments Notice.

All Europe Ready to Fly to Arms
Mt Moments Notice.
NEW YORK, Feb 15.- The Times CORE
spondent at London telegraphs: but echo
the deliberate conviction of nine well-in-
formed men in ten in London, Paris, Ber-
lin and Vienna when say there seems to
be nochance of escaping war. No business
operations are proceeding anywhere on a
theory that peace will be preserved through
the spring. No man in official life, in a po-
sitiOn to know even the outlines of the ex-
isting situation, will candidly say he be-
lieves that peace will be maintained. In
deed, the better a mans source of infOrma-
tion the more pessimistic you are sure to
find him. l have had the advantage of a
long talk with a German general of divis-
on, who came to England on Tues
day to arrange for his family to remove
from Prussia here in month, and
he tells me no German officer doubts
the reality of the intention to have
war. In his division for fortnight back
the bugle call has occurred at o'clock in
the morning. Everything is in momentary
readiness to start, either for parade or a
campaign. Throughout the whole army
the same nervous preparation reigns. At
Metz, young friend of his, and officer of
Hussars, tell him they are all held in abso-
lutte suspense, waiting for the hourly eX-
pected order to move. Theories differ as to
the time when the fight will really come.
The opinion in Germany is that the out
break will come about April IL, because the
reserves will be out on the second. 1t is
also deemed probable that Germany will
sweep down on France, through Belgium,
and it is accepted as fact that Belgium
will be friendly to Germany. The Belgian
people favor Germany, and besides which,
Leopold is a grandson of Louis PHILIPPE,
and the most enthusiastic Orleanist in Eu-
rope. Any study Of the situation
leaving out of view this dynastic movement
would be false and misleading. The gen.
eral drift of opinion in the European capi-
tails is that the French republic is to be
overthrown, and the Comte de Paris is
looked upon as the coming man. 1t is be-
coming evident, however, that, the compact
between Russia and Germany is not so def
mite as had been supposed. For time Bis
marck supposed that he had a clear under
standing with the Gar, and the Gar may
have so intended. but the activity of the
Panslavists, whose organ is the Moscow
Gazette, has unsettled any agreement that
may have been made. The Panslavists are
strong sympathizers with France, and they
are anti-German.
These Panslavists lead the Russian army,
dominate the bureaucracy, handle the
finances, and color every channel through
which ideas filter to the Gar, its chief
abiding principle is hatred of the German.
To these the Gar has been compelled to
yield, 1t is perfectly well understood in
Berlin and Vienna that he has consented
to an attack on Austria at the earliest pos
sible moment. Then it will be for Germany
publicly to announce that she has no inten-
tion of helping Austria. Otherwise Russia
and France would hurl their hosts upon
her simultaneously, leaving the Balkan
hOstilities to take care of themselves for
six or eight weeks, or till Germany is dis
membered and prostrate. 1t is knowledge
of the scheme which has decided Bismark
to strike the first blow himself, Over-run-
ming Belgium while Italy strikes at Nice,
Toulon and Marseilles, and leaving enough
Germans in East Prussia, POsen and Selesia
to withstand n Russian attack.
This, says the Times correspondent, is a
skeleton statement of the universal eXpec-
tations of war, which otherwise must be
well nigh incomprehensible.